A cross national study of golf tourists' satisfaction

The purpose of this study was two-fold: firstly, it was to examine the determinant satisfaction levels of golf tourists and secondly to investigate if these vary across golf tourists' country of residence. Using data collected through a survey of golf tourists visiting Lisbon (Portugal), attributes directly related to playing golf as well as more generic destination attributes were examined as potential determinants of golf tourists' satisfaction. The data was analysed in two stages by the means of logistic regression. In stage one, the analysis was based on a representative sample of golf tourists to the region. In the second stage, two separate analyses were undertaken, one examining the satisfaction of Nordic golf tourists and another of British golf tourists (the two main markets for Lisbon). The results indicate that the satisfaction level of golf tourists is influenced by several factors, including those related to perceived quality and value. In addition, the results suggest that satisfaction is influenced by cross-cultural differences. While some determinants were important influences for both the British and the Nordic golfers, other determinants were specific to each country of origin.

► Evaluates the extent to which country of origin influences golf tourists' satisfaction. ► Logistic regression is posited to be a valuable, yet still largely unused, statistical tool for examining sport tourists' satisfaction. ► Increasing levels of satisfaction among golf tourists requires improvements in the performance of a range of factors related to quality and value. ► The contention that culture influences satisfaction appears to be supported. ► Attributes that were not relevant for the whole sample were found to determine satisfaction for specific nationalities.